Solehi teacher charged with assaulting police

Police arrested a Southern Lehigh High School social studies teacher early Sunday after she allegedly hit one officer with her purse and kicked another during a fight at a Bethlehem restaurant.

Katie Quartuch, 26, of 2508 Eldridge Ave., Palmer Township, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness before District Judge Diane Repyneck of Lower Saucon Township and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

She has worked for the district since at least the fall of 2005.

Bethlehem police Lt. Joe Kimock said the charges stemmed from a confrontation at Starters Riverport restaurant, 17 W. Second St., about 2 a.m. Kimock said an off-duty police officer was acting as a security guard for the restaurant and tried to make two men leave.

An on-duty police officer arrived, and when the two men did not leave, began to arrest one of them. Kimock said Quartuch then attacked one of the officers, hitting him in the chest with both hands and her purse. The officer wrestled Quartuch to the floor, Kimock said, and while she was down, Quartuch kicked the other officer in the groin.

Quartuch's husband, Matthew Quartuch, 32, was cited for disorderly conduct, Kimock said. He was not one of the two men in the original incident.

Police said the two men who wouldn't leave the restaurant were Erik Steffens, 24, of 447 Canton Ave., Bethlehem, and Ryan Foulk, whose age and address were not given. Kimock said Steffens will be mailed a summons for obstructing the administration of law, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, and Foulk will be cited for public drunkenness.